Staying a float

Looking to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings on your next holiday? What better way than leaving terra firma behind and booking an aquatic escape to one of these floating hotels that respect their environments while giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘sea view’, says Stephanie Dobrijevic. Just don’t forget your swimming costume

Manta resort Tanzania

Imagine being encapsulated in an azure bubble beneath the sea,
drifting in and out of sleep as colourful shoals of reef fish casually
swim by your window. The remarkable underwater room at
Tanzania’s Manta Resort is one of the most unique bedrooms in
the world, set 250m off the remote tropical island of Pemba.

The watertight chamber is located 4m underwater, making it
the closest you will ever come to life under the sea. More than
100 marine species call the protected blue hole site their home,
including rare Spanish dancer sea slugs, orbicular batfish,
octopus and nosy Nick, the island’s resident trumpetfish.

The submerged chamber has 360-degree panoramas of the
Indian Ocean with unobstructed views by day. At night,
spotlights under the windows illuminate the room, attracting all
kinds of fish to the porthole. At sea level, the structure is made
from local hardwood and cladding, featuring a simple lounge

space and bathroom. Climb the ladder up to the rooftop deck
and marvel at the smudges of coral, violet, turquoise and fiery
orange blending together as the sun sets over the mainland. If
you don’t want to go downstairs, you can even sleep under the
stars as the gentle sound of the sea and warm climes lulls you
into a deep slumber with unpolluted views of the solar system.

As you would expect, freshly caught seafood is excellent here.
Try the stuffed crab paired with wali wa nazi (rice in coconut
milk), best enjoyed with a cocktail or cold beer in hand and your
toes buried in the sand as you look out on to your island idyll. At
dusk, take a guided tour through the ancient Ngezi Forest
Reserve in search of the endemic Pemba flying fox.

Travel Details

Doubles from £1,165, all inclusive.

Nearest
airport is Abeid Amani Karume International (135km). From
here take a chartered flight to Pemba island.

Taj lake palace udaipur India

Feel like a member of the raj as you stand beneath a sequin-
embroidered umbrella and are greeted by rose petals falling
from the roof to the heraldic sound of trumpets.

Completely restored to its pristine glory in 1963 after
featuring in Roger Moore’s Octopussy, the Taj Lake Palace was
the secluded, sensual lair of the eponymous Bond girl. The
18th-century white marble castle floats on Lake Pichola, with
intricately carved statues in the parapets reflecting perfectly on
to the still water. With the picturesque Aravalli Mountains
peering through the mist behind, it really is a view to kill for.

Each one of the 83 ethereal white marble rooms is decorated
with luxurious silks, bespoke wood furniture, ornate screens
and coloured frescoes. With a quintessentially Indian design
staying as true as possible to the original, it remains rooted to its Rajasthani heritage and effortlessly captures the essence of the
subcontinent. Jharokha-style windows boast stunning views of
nearby Jag Mandir palace, while incense drifts through the hotel
in the same way that it would have done two centuries ago.

Pamper yourself at the hotel’s Jiva Boat Spa and indulge
in carefully curated treatments that purify and regenerate the
body. Its Vishram massage draws out impurities through
the use of aromatic oils and techniques that hark back to ancient
Hindu rituals. Bathe in exquisite lily pools as the sun reflects off
the stone and order up a martini; shaken, not stirred, if you’re
staying in character. Romance, comfort and a sense of charm is
all you need here – and a licence to chill, of course.

Travel Details

4 rivers floating lodge Cambodia

Escape the frenzied streets of Koh Kong, where the smell of
dried spices hang in the thick air, and immerse yourself in
Theravada Buddhist culture and Cambodia’s untouched lands.

Accessible only by boat, these lodges put you in the middle of
the wilderness. You’ll be mesmerised by fish jumping out of the
crystal-clear Tatai River and the dominant beauty of the
Krâvanh Mountains as you wake up to the calling sounds of deer
and gibbons celebrating the day’s first rays of sunshine.

The ‘Kingdom of Wonder’ in the country’s south-west is an
increasingly popular destination thanks to developments that
make journeying there easier. These 12 stylish tented ecolodges
are found in unspoilt surroundings – the perfect retreat for those
who want to help out the environment and their bank balance.

Each of the lodges take their inspiration from Africa’s game
parks, with khaki tents that combine luxury with practicality.
Built using modern composite materials instead of wood, they
help protect local rainforests from destruction. Inside you’ll find
elegant rattan furniture complemented by red cushions, dark
timber flooring and plush rugs. Spacious bathrooms feature
showers housed in quirky wine barrel-style tubs.

Experience a taste of Khmer cuisine at the 4 Rivers Restaurant
and breakfast on sticky rice with papaya before sliding straight
into the Tatai from your private deck. Afterwards, roll up the
sides of your tent and relax on the day bed, watching the azure
sky slowly turn to vibrant orange and red as the sun moves along
the river. Elsewhere, take a guided motorbike and walking trek
into the Cardamom Rainforest, where local monks teach their
sacred Pali language, visit Tatai waterfall at dusk to witness
clouds of fireflies lighting up the night sky or settle back on a
river cruise and watch the tropical sun dip into the horizon.

Travel Details

Salt and sill Sweden

Not much happens in Klädesholmen, a village hidden away in
Tjörn on the Swedish coast. It’s home to just 385 residents living
in picture-postcard wooden cottages. They spend their days
fishing and evenings grilling their catch, while sharing glasses of
aquavit (a local flavoured spirit) and tales of old.

The country’s first floating hotel is designed to have a minimal
effect on the environment and marine life. The six two-storey
houses which perch on pontoons are built from derelict fishing
boats and local granite, a fabulous contrast to the red-hued huts
on the harbour. The decor has a contemporary Scandinavian
feel throughout with clean-lined interiors. As places to forget
the cares of modern life go, there are few better than here.

Watch tufty clouds drift past Bohuslän’s outer archipelago
while you feast on delicious shellfish from the hotel’s award-
winning restaurant. It serves fine, fresh-off-the-boat crab,
lobster and pickled herring – an acquired taste that you just have
to try, if only to win the respect of the locals. Its small herring
board offers the fish served six ways alongside a classic pairing
of boiled potatoes. Be sure to save a shot of local schnapps to
wash down the slightly less palatable combinations.

Fancy dipping your toe into the brackish Skagerrak waters?
Then dive straight in from your own personal deck before
making a restorative trip to the adjacent S/S Silla where you’ll
find a floating sauna and relaxation room. On the top deck
there’s a hot tub and sun terrace which affords spectacular views
out to sea. Whatever the time of year or temperature, you’ll find
guests and locals alike sitting out long into the night, gazing at
the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains.

Travel Details

Good hotel London

Located in East London’s beating heart, Good Hotel offers some
of the best-value beds in the capital, with stellar river views to
match. It’s super-minimalist with a pared-back industrial design
that is bang on-trend for this style-conscious part of town.
However, what really makes this place shine is its commitment
to the surrounding community. The staff is formed of long-term
unemployed Londoners and youths from disadvantaged
families, while both local and international charities benefit
from every room booked through the non-profit group.

The hotel is the brainchild of Dutch designers Remko
Verhaagen and Sikko Valk. It was built in a port in the
Netherlands last year before being tugged 530km across the
North Sea to its permanent home on Royal Victoria Dock.

A masterful feat of engineering, Docklands residents
marvelled as the hotel’s transport boards were peeled down and the sides unfolded like origami to fully erect the structure in
under 48 hours. The slick decor mixes monochrome shades
with moody lighting, creating an ultra-cool space where guests
are encouraged to interact with residents who come to make use
of the relaxed breakout spaces and truly excellent coffee.

A terrace runs the length of the building, affording skyline
views of Canary Wharf, with a restaurant serving all-day classics
such as Caesar salad, top-quality steaks and healthy lunches like
quinoa salads and poke bowls. As a base for exploring the city,
the location doesn’t get much better than this. From one of its
148 rooms, you can be in central London in just 15 minutes.
Good value, perfectly located and socially responsible – three
tenets you’ll rarely find in any city centre hotel property.

Travel Details

King pacific lodge Canada

If isolation and relaxation are your holiday essentials, King
Pacific Lodge ticks all the boxes. Your only neighbours will be
grizzly bears, grey wolves, cougars and the odd mountain goat.
The solitude and silence is deafening, broken only by the daily
arrival of a helicopter ferrying new guests to the island.

In the depths of Great Bear Rainforest – 6.4million ha of the
largest temperate rainforest in the world – on Princess Royal
Island in British Columbia, the lodge channels the spirit of
the Pacific Northwest with a colonial vibe in every aspect of its
styling. Cedar panels line the property and its 17 suites, while
exposed brick chimneys, taxidermy and wildlife portraits give it
the feel of a genuine hunting lodge away from home.

Each spring the three-storey building, built on a former US
Navy barge, is towed 160km south from Prince Rupert to
Bernard Harbour and each autumn it returns to its winter dock,
leaving only a minimal footprint on the environment.

Anglers will be in their element. Hire a boat from adjacent St
John’s Harbour and head to Cheney Point for some of Canada’s
best fishing. King coho, Chinook and silver salmon populate the
waters, with all necessary equipment available to borrow.

Bring your catch back to the lodge and cook it on the barbecue
(chefs are on hand for cooking tips). As you’d expect, local fish is
on the menu throughout your stay and the likes of grilled Hecate
Strait halibut and crispy-skin wild spring salmon are served in
modern style. This is off-the-grid living at its most pure.

Travel Details

Doubles from £1,079, including helicopter
transfer.

Nearest airport is Vancouver (499km). From here take
a chartered flight to Campbell Island.

Harbour houseboat Isle of Wight

Walk the gangplank on to the UK’s most attractive hotel
houseboat. The Harbour Houseboat, nicknamed ‘Sturdy’, offers
views across Bembridge Harbour and out to The Solent.
Converted from a 22m Thames Lighter barge, expect chic
interiors and maritime styling. Crisp white walls reflect the
water rippling outside and colourful, hand-painted local art
adds a comforting touch. Mismatched chairs surround a huge
zinc-topped dining table and nautical sofas add a whimsical
edge to the design, while the kitchen is kitted out as well as any
that you might find on dry land. The four bedrooms feature
king-size beds swathed with luxury linen and it can comfortably
sleep nine adults, making it the largest of the options on our list.
It’s a great pick for family celebrations for those who want to
make the most of the area’s excellent seafood and produce.

Don’t fancy cooking? Book a private chef from La Belle
Assiette who will bring fresh, island ingredients to cook on board
and even do the washing up. Bi-fold doors that run the width of
the boat glide open on to an imposing foredeck, while a rooftop
terrace is the ideal spot for a sundowner. Just a few minutes’
walk away you’ll find Bembridge Harbour filled with colourful
fishing boats and friendly locals. Have some old-fashioned fun
building sandcastles on the beach, rock-pooling on the shore or
taking long walks in the crisp sea air for that nostalgic seaside
buzz. For close-to-home family escapes with plenty of activities
on your doorstep, this will really float your boat.

Travel Details

Self-catering from £149.

Nearest airport is
Southampton (34km). From here take a Red Funnel ferry to Isle
of Wight.